France’s Areva blasts uranium pledge

France’s Areva has accused federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett of “rushing through" a decision to ban uranium mining at the Koongarra deposit in the Northern Territory and has queried whether the minister has the authority to make such a ruling.

Areva, controlled by the French government, said it will seek legal advice “to protect its property interests" at Koongarra, which is believed to be the company’s most advanced uranium project in Australia, holding about 14,500 tonnes of uranium oxide.

Mr Garrett on Tuesday pledged that a re-elected Labor government would incorporate the indigenous lands of Koongarra into Kakadu National Park, making it off-limits to uranium mining. The site lies 3 kilometres from Nourlangie Rock, a popular Aboriginal rock art site and tourist area.

The minister said the decision followed extensive consultation by the Northern Land Council and with traditional landowners. Senior traditional owner Jeffrey Lee, custodian of the land as sole representative of the Djok clan, offered the site to the federal government for inclusion in Kakadu park earlier this year.

But Areva, one of the world’s biggest makers of nuclear reactors, has held mining lease and exploration licence applications over the site since 1995. It made a submission on the issue in May to the National Parks Service and was awaiting further feedback and consultation from the government.

“Given the complexity of the issues, Areva did not expect the announcement of such a decision to be rushed through during an election campaign," said Philippe Portella, managing director of Areva’s Australian business.

Mr Portella said it was essential that the next government follows a proper decision-making process, including taking into account all stakeholders and the views of other Cabinet ministers.

Areva will ask the minister for an official statement of reasons for his decision, while considering legal action, the company said in a statement.

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The Australia Conservation Foundation has welcomed Labor’s commitment, which it said was “great news for Australia’s special places and first peoples." The ACF has battled against uranium mining in the Northern Territory for decades, most notably at Energy Resources of Australia’s Ranger site, which lies on land excised from Kakadu National Park.